La Louisiane
Baton Rouge = Red Stick This marked the area between two Native
American tribes and the French.
La Capitale
Who founded the area?
The French; René Robert Cavalier de la Salle claimed it for France.
What is the origin of the name? Named in honor of King Louis XIV
How did the U.S. obtain it? In 1803 France (Napoleon) sold it to the U.S.
for $15 million in the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the U.S.
L’Histoire de la Louisiane
The Louisiana
Purchase
L’Histoire des
Acadiens
How did the whole thing begin?
1604
People from western France came to Nova Scotia, which was called Acadia (Acadie) at the time.
France gave Acadia to the British (due to a lost
battle)
Acadia became a British colony.
The Acadians (who were French and had founded the area) refused to swear allegiance to the British crown.
What changed it all?1713
The British governor was fed up with the
Acadians not cooperating, so… …he decided to expel them… Villages were attacked, people were
imprisoned, houses were burned. Families were separated and put on boats, first men and then women and children.
This was one of the cruelest events in Canadian history.
How did it get worse?1755
How did it end up?
1760 Acadians bounced down
the east coast (Virginia, Georgia, the Antilles) but did not stop. Why? They were British
colonies! They ended up in Haiti
and Louisiana. Why? They were French
colonies!
The Acadians rebuilt their community in
Louisiana.
Other immigrants (German, Spanish, English, Blacks) became adopted Acadians.
Now close to 1 million Acadians in la Louisiane.
The Créoles were already there from (Part I) and the Caribbean in the cities.
How did it end up?1760
A changed form of the French word “acadien”; the
Créoles couldn’t pronounce it.
These people came from Acadia (Acadie).
Settled in the bayous.
Cajuns
A blend of French, Spanish, African, and American
Indian language and food.
These people are from the Caribbean and France.
Arrived in Louisiana first.
Settled in the cities.
http://www.frenchcreoles.com
Créole
Cajuns
Fishing and farming
Créoles
Tourism and regular jobs
How does each group make their living?
A distinct variation of French
A blend of Créole, French, and American Indian
Dying language now, the teachers aren’t French. Older people are upset about it because they don’t want to lose their culture.
Language
Chop the g off the words that end with ing.
Looking becomes lookin’; pinching becomes pinchin’.
Substitute all long i sounds and short a sounds with ah.Time becomes tahm; half becomes hahf.
Sift out the hard consonants at the ends of words.Told becomes tol’; best becomes bes’.
Boil all th sounds till the h evaporates.Throughout becomes t’roughout; Thing becomes t’ing.
Finely dice “correct grammar” to a pulp. Stir in a lilt, and add a pinch of music to the voice. Simmer into a rich stew. Spice with humor, a relish for festivity, a love for
relaxation, and a dash of dramatic. Cook at approximately 80 to 90ºF.
Bon appétit!
Recipe for a Cajun Accent
A. There are no counties, people live in
Parishes (from Roman Catholic France).
B. The laws are based on Napoleonic code, not British common law.
French Influences: Catholic religion, language, holidays, festivals, some food.
Les Choses Uniques(Unique Things)
1st city settled; the largest city What is it called by the natives?
Nawlins
Le Vieux Carré? Literally means “The Old Square”= The French
Quarter; was originally a walled city. Bourbon Street is the heart of the French
Quarter.
New Orléans
Food
Music
Mardi Gras
3 Biggest Attractions
En général
Seafood—crawfish (mudbugs), catfish, frog’s legs, alligator
Beignets Po’ Boys Spicy!
Food
Cajun (Poor)
Rice, gumbo, jambalaya Blackened with Cajun spices to cover poor
quality or taste
Food
Classic French (créoles & the rich)
French Revolution—chopped off heads; chefs needed jobs
1800’s—massive slave rebellion in Caribbean; owners fled to New Orleans and needed chefs.
Food
Birthplace of Jazz Zydeco = accordian, fiddle, washboard; a
blend of créole, cajun and african traditions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHlHt7Djcg
0
Music
What would you see if you went there?
Mardi Gras World St. Louis Cathedral Street artists
fortune tellers, palm readers, caricature artists, clowns, jugglers…
Architecture balconies and wrought iron balconies
Cemeteries Can’t be buried, would be below sea level!
La Nouvelle Orléans
Mardi Gras World
St. Louis Cathedral
Architecture
Cemeteries
What to watch out for!
Very high crime, especially in cemetaries and during Mardi Gras
Murder capital of America
La Nouvelle Orléans
Mardi Gras